Thursday April 18th Training RideThe Wheelsucker Report

The Wheelsucker's assigned workout for Thursday was VO2Max intervals, so he did not actually do the group ride. But riding the route – or a variant -- from the P&R seemed a good idea, so the Wheelsucker was in the P&R (ABRT Ride Staging Area is the location on FB) shortly before 6:00pm, ready to roll. A good group was gathering.

It was a wonderful evening for a bike ride. Winter is clearly over; so is early spring. The temperature was about middle 60s, there was some sunshine and the wind was … uhhh … invigorating. The Wheelsucker rolled out a few minutes ahead of the group for his warmup, rather than being tempted to tag on at the back of the group. Rolling out with the group is more fun, but less conducive to a good warmup.

The Wheelsucker started his first VO2Max interval on Harwood Road; the interval ended just as he started climbing Harwood Hill. Not wanting to climb Harwood Hill during his recovery interval, the Wheelsucker turned around and retraced his route for the recovery interval. At the base of Harwood Hill he saw the group ride coming. Ace was already off the front and the group – which was already shedding riders – was chasing a few bike lengths back.

Apparently Ace has not been feeling quite 100%, which has not stopped him ripping legs off on the Tuesday/Thursday rides. Everyone else can hardly wait for Ace to be back at full strength…

After six more VO2Max intervals, and some recovery, the Wheelsucker was soft pedaling up Patuxent River Road, just finishing the climb out of the dip and on his way to the 214 intersection, when he was caught by the lead group. It was down to Ace, Matt, Iain and Jeff Chun. The Wheelsucker was hoping for a tow, so accelerated to catch on at the back. Ace was "locked and loaded", wearing a skin suit -- who wears a skin suit to a training ride? And watching Jeff Chun.

This was a MUCH easier way to make the lead group than actually doing the group ride and following the attacks and moves and being on the front side of the split; something the Wheelsucker longs to do, but does not succeed at very often.

Matt and Iain were working to position Ace for the sprint against Jeff Chun. The Wheelsucker sat in at the back and eventually recovered enough to rotate back up to the front and take a short fast pull, pulling off close to the ball park. Matt took over; Iain was second wheel, Jeff Chun third, with Ace following Jeff. The Wheelsucker tagged on at the back and tried to recover. The Wheelsucker considered jumping at his favorite penultimate dip the but quickly decided he did not have anything in the tank for such an attack. But he did go harder on the climb trying to get to the front of the line and do leadout, but his best effort got him only out of line and part way up; he could not reach Matt at the front. So the Wheelsucker eased up and wheelsucked behind Ace, again.

Matt accelerated down the last dip and Iain launched early on the climb to the finish, with Jeff and Ace on his wheel. Matt still had something in the tank, and accelerated for Ace's wheel, with the Wheelsucker politely letting him in. Iain went as far as he could, and then Jeff Chun launched with Ace on his wheel. Jeff Chun is an excellent sprinter, but the Wheelsucker thinks Ace was toying with him. Ace followed and followed and followed and then came around and nipped Jeff Chun at the line. Matt rolled across third, while the Wheelsucker's "spring" was indistinguishable from Iain's sitting up.